Abia Residents Panic Over Return Of Kidnapping, Child Trafficking

Abia State residents have expressed concern over gradual return of kidnapping and child trafficking in the state, specifically the South Senatorial District, which is composed of Obingwa, Isialangwa North and South, Osisisoma, Ugwunagbo, Aba North and South and Ukwa East and West local government areas.

This was the area that was virtually taken over by criminal elements, especially kidnappers few years ago, which led most residents of the area, particularly Aba, the commercial city, to flee their homes and abandoned their businesses.

Lately, however, there had been reports of increase in crimes, particularly child kidnapping and trafficking in Abia South area, which is now a source of worry to the people.

This prompted Governor Orji to donate additional patrol vans to the 14 Brigade Ohafia, to enable the Army tackle the problem of child trafficking and pipelines vandalisation and other crimes now rearing their ugly heads in the state.

He urged the soldiers to go all out for them to ensure that the security in the state was maintained.

State Commissioner of Police, Usman Tilli Abubakar, has also lamented the increasing incidence of violent crimes in Abia South but promised that his men would tackle it head-on.

Residents who spoke to Vanguard, blamed the situation on the security agencies who they said had relaxed in their duties after the initial aggressiveness with which they fought crimes in the state.

According to the residents: “The blame should go to the various security agencies in the state. They have all relaxed after the initial zeal with which they tackled the situation.

“These criminals have been monitoring and perhaps they have noticed some loopholes and want to come back.”